Wood-carving machine.



PATENTBD JULY 14, 1903.

A. W. H. RAETTIG. WOODGARVING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN; 23, 1903.I '11'0 MODEL. 3.S HEBTSSHBET 1.

No. 733,744. PATENTED JULY 14,1903.

' A. w. H, RAETTIG.

WOO D GARVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1903.

no MODEL. s sums-sum 2.

EE'IIJ "II- lllllllljlllhglllhli No. 733,744. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. A.w. H. RAETTIG.

WOOD GARVING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 23, 1903.

no nonm. I a SHEETS-SHEET s.

BY h

A TTOHNE YS.

NITED STATES I Patented July 14, 1903-.

ALFRED W. H. RAETTIG, OF NEW LONDON, WISCONSIN.

WOOD-CARVINQ MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATI0N forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,744, dated July 14,1903.

Application filed January 23, 1903. Serial No. 140,213. (No model.)

11) all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. 11. RAM- TIG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New London, in the county of \Vaupaca andState of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved WVood-OarvingMachine,

of which the following is a full, clear, and

Further objects and advantages of the in-' vention will appear duringthe course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be definedby the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wood-carving machineconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a centralhorizontal section through the machine, illustrating certain parts inplan. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views of different styles of gages which maybe used in connection with the machine. Fig. 6 is a detail perspectiveof a thumb-plate. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustratinga part of the machine and one of the gage and starting wheels which maybe used in lieu of the gages shown by Figs. 2 to 4, iiiclusive. Figs. 8,9, and 10 are views of another style of adjustable gage adapted to beemployed in connection with the machine in lieu of the other styles ofgages heretofore mentioned, Fig. 9 being a vertical section of one formof regulating-screw and Fig. 10 being a sectional plan view of thecross-head.

' In carrying my invention into practice I provide a suitable framehaving the form shown more particularly by Fig. 2. The frame consists oftwo members 5 6, assembled and fastened detachably together. The member5 constitutes the main part of the frame, and it has two portions 5 5"disposed at right angles to each other in a way to form a reentrantangle or recesss in one side thereof,

said recess adapted to receive the member 6, which is of angular form,the latter being fastened in place in any suitable way-as, for

example, by the screws 7. The member 5 has its portion 5" enlarged andprovided with a cutter-receiving chamber 8, and this part 5 of the framemember is constructed with a conical opening 9, which receives a conicalbushing 10, the latter being secured in place by screws 11 and arrangedflush with the chamber 8 and with the side formed by the angle orrecess. This bushing 10 may be made of any suitable material towithstand wear, and it serves as abearing for an enlarged conicalportion 12 of a cutter shaft or spindle 13. This spindle passes throughthe member 5 of the frame in a way to have an end portion thereof housedwithin the chamber 8, while the other end portion is adapted to fit in asocket 14, provided in the frame member 6. The conical portion 12 fitssnugly in the bushing 10, and one end portion of this shaft or spindleis engaged by a pointed adjusting-screw15, the latter being mounted in atapped opening in the frame member 6, said screw being accessible forthe purpose of adj ustment and engaging with the cuttershaft 13 in a wayto move its conical portion 12 within the bushing 10, whereby thecuttershaft may be adjusted to compensate for wear.

The portiono of the frame member 5 is provided with a passage 16, whichserves as a bearing for a shaft 17 the latter being disposed at rightangles to the cutter-shaft 13. (See Fig. 2.) This shaft 17 is providedat its inner portion with a bevel-gear 18, adapted to be fastened tosaid shaft in any suitable wayas, for example, by screwing the gear onthe shaft and pinning it thereto. The cutter-shaft13 is provided with amiter or bevel gear 19, which may be secured by screws to the enlargedend of the conical portion 12 of said shaft. The gear 19 meshes directlywith the gear 18 on the shaft 17, and the motion of this shaft is thustransmitted to the cuttershaft. I

I do not desire to limit myself to the special type of bevel-gearingherein shown and described, as I am aware that other forms of gearingmay be substituted therefor.

The cutter-receiving chamber 8 of the machine-frame is open on one sideof said frame, and this open side of the chamber is normally closed by aremovable cap or thumb plate 20. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 6.) This plateconforms to the shape of the frame, and at its lower corners said plateis provided with the inwardly-extending lips 21, and it is also providedwith a perforated lug 22 at the top edge thereof. The plate is fitted tothe open side of the casing in a way for the lips 21 to fit into notches23, while the lug 22 rests on the top of the casing and receives theclampingserew 24, the latter serving to firmly clamp the thumb-plate tothe casing and allow the ready removal thereof.

I may employ any suitable style of rotary cutter adapted to be securelyfastened in a removable way to that portion of the shaft 13 which lieswithin the chamber As shown by Fig. 2, the cutter-shaft 13 is providedwith a collar 25 adjacent to the small end of the conical portion 12,and against this collar is clamped the cutter-head by a clamping-nut 26,which is screwed 011 a threaded extremity of said shaft 13. In Figs. 1and 2 the cutterhead consists of the disks 27 and the knives 28. Thedisks are fitted on the shaft for one of them to lie against the collar25, and the knives 28 are provided with shanks, which are disposedbetween and in engagement with the opposing faces of the disk, wherebythe nut 26 serves in connection with the collar 25 to clamp the disks 27and the knives 2S firmly in place on said shaft. The particular style ofknives is not material, because the working edges thereof will varyaccording to the nature of the work which it is desired to perform onthe wood or othermaterial. Ialso reserve the right to employ otherstyles of cutter-heads in lieu of the special cutter-head hereindescribed. The cutter-shaft and the cutter thereon are driven by theshaft 1'7 and the train of gears, and said shaft 17 is in turn propelledfrom anysuitable source of powersuch, for example, as the flexible shaft29. (Shown by Fig. 1.) Said shaft is coupled in any suitable way to theshaft 17 and is fitted by a sleeve 30 to the bearing 16 of the framemember 5. Any style of flexible shaft may be employed, and I have foundthat the shaft known as the Stowe flexible shaft operates efiiciently torotate the cutter-head.

My improved machine may be used in connection with manydifferent stylesof gages, some of which are indicated by the drawings. The gage shown byFig. 3 consists of a flat plate 31, having a slot 32, the upstandingcurved arms 33, and the upstanding lugs 33. This gage-plate may beattached firmly to the machine, so as to be movable or adjustabletherewith, and this is accomplished by placing the machine-casingbetween the curved arms 33 in a way for said arms to fit snugly againstthe outside of the casing, as shown by Fi 1 and 2. The gage is clampedfirmly and adjustably to the casing by the set-screws 3!,

which pass through the spaces between the arms 33 and are received inthreaded openings in the frame member 5. The plate 31 of the gage liesdirectly below the machine proper, while the cutter-head is over theslot 32, the gage and the machine being relatively adjusted for theworking ends of the cutters to project through the slot 32 and operateon the work. It is evident that the machine may be raised or loweredbetween the arms 33 to make the cutters project more or less through theslot 32, and thereby regulate the depth of cutting.

The machine may also be equipped with a lateral gage. (Shown by Fig.land in position by Figs. 1 and 2.) This gage 35 is provided withslotted arms 36 and with a guide-lug 37. This guide-lug may extendupwardly from the gage 35, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and .4,but, if desired, the lug may project downwardly from said gage, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The gage is attached to the machineby fitting the slotted arms 36 between the upstanding arms 33 of themain gage,

(shown by Fig. 3,) and this lateral gage is heldsecurely in place bymeans of bolts 38, which receive the binding-nuts 39. The lateral gageis disposed at one side of the cutterhead, as shown by Fig. 2, and itmay be adj usted toward or from the machine by slipping the slotted arms36 across the bolts 38 and the arms 33 of the main Under certainconditions of service I may employ the under gage shown by Fig. 5. Thisgage 40 is provided with upstanding fingers 41, arranged to form spacesbetween themselves. In applying the gage 40 it is placed below the maingage 31, and its arms ll are fitted against the lugs 33, after whichsuitable bolts and nuts may be adjusted and tightened to clamp the undergage securely in a horizontal position below the main gage 31. Thisunder gage is adapted to lie in a plane below the main gage and themachine, and it is useful in holding the machine in a level positionwhen the cutter is to operate on a surface of the work above thatsurface on which the under gage 40 is adapted to travel.

The gages hereinbefore described may be omitted, and in lieu thereof themachine may be provided with two wheels, substantially as indicated byFig. 7. Each wheel 42 is loosely journaled at the lower end of an arm43, the latter being curved to fit snugly against the outside of thecasing and to be clamped thereon by a thumb-screw 4i. Two of the armsand the wheels are providedone on each side of the m achine-the saidarms being adjustably clamped to the machine-frame by the thumb-screw.In using the machine with a roller-gage it may be tilted in afore-and-aft direction and in a way to raise one wheel out of engagementwith the work, while the other wheel is permitted to travel on thesurface of the work. Under these conditions the ma chine may bemanipulated to start and stop the cutter in operating on the work, andthe ICC , able plates 60 by thumb-screws 61.

arm 43 may be adjusted to regulate the depth of the cut made by therotary head.

Another form of the gage is represented by Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the samehaving a flexible steel plate 45, which may be bent or curved to conformto any desired contour of the work under treatment. This plate isprovided with a vertical post 46, secured in any suitable way to themiddle portion of said plate, said post having .a head i? and alongitudinal guideway 48. In this guideway is fitted the lug 49 of across-head 50, the latter being slidably fitted on said post and guidedin its up-anddown movements by the lug 49, which travels in the guideway48. The head 47 has a threaded opening 47, in which is screwed thehollow member 51 of a regulating-screw, said screw member having ahand-wheel 52 at its upper end. The screw member 51 is hollow andinternally threaded to receive the male threaded member 53 of theadjusting-screw, said member 53 being attached in a suitable Way to thecross-head 50, whereby the twopart screw has its members connectedtelescopically, and. said screw may be manipulated by the wheel 52 forthe purpose of raising or lowering the cross-head 50. The post to isprovided with the upstanding arms 54, on which are fulcrumed levers 55,which have slidable and pivotal connection at 56 with the cross-head 50.These levers are pivoted at their outer ends to the links 57, which inturn are pivoted to the plates 58, secured firmly to the side edgeportions of the flexible gageplate 45 This gage-plate is provided withslotted arms 59, which are attached to adj nst- Thearms 59 are similarto the arms 33 of the main gage 31, and said arms 59 are applied to theeasing of the machine in a way to clamp the gage adjustably to saidmachine. It is evident that the two-part screw may be adjusted in onedirection for the purpose of flexing the plate 45, and thereby impart adesired curvature to said plate; but the movement of the screw in anopposite direction deflects the plate in another direct-ion and makes itpresent a concave under face.

In using the improved machine one or more gages of the proper characterare applied to the machine, as hereinbefore described, said gageassuming such relation to the machine that the rotary cutter willproject through the slot 32 in the gageplate 31 or through a similarslot (not shown) provided in the flexible plate 45. The shaft 29 isoperated to rotate the shaft 17, which in turn drives the train of gearsto rotate the cutter-shaft 13, thus driving the cutter or cutter-head.The operator grasps the machine by placing the hand over the frame andthe thumb against the plate 20, and the entire machine is manipulatedand controlled by moving the hand as desired. To steady the shaft 29, Iprefer to employ an arm-strap 62, which is provided with a loop 63, thatfits on the shaft 29, and

is also equipped with any suitable take-up device, such as a buckle, inorder to shorten the strap and attach it firmly to the operators arm.

The lug 37 of the lateral gage is adapted to ride against a suitableguide strip, which maybe secured temporarily to the work. The gage 31 orthe flexible plate 45 serves to regulate the depth of cutting.

It is to be understood that the casing of my machine is made in a formand of such dimensions as to be easily grasped by and held in the handof an operator, thus placing the machine under the direct control of theoperator and facilitating its manipulation.

The machine can be used for offhand or carving work or worked to adrawing 011 wood or other material or according to a suitable pattern. Iprefer to use alight frame or casing, such as a casing made of aluminiumor other suitable material.

Although I have shown a telescopic screw in Figs. 8 and 9 as the meansfor adjusting the flexible base-plate of the gage, it isto be understoodthat any equivalent means may be employed to secure the desired flexiblemovement of said base-plate.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A hand -controlled wood carving machine,comprising a casing having a form suitable to be grasped by the hand ofthe operator and provided with two chambers, the partition between thechambers having a conical opening therein, a shaft provided with aconical portion fitting in the said conical opening and having its endsprojecting into the said chambers, with one end engaging a socket on theinner face of the casing, means for engaging the said end of the shaftto adjust the same, a cutter on one end of the shaft in one of thechambers, a gear-wheel on the other end of the shaft in the otherchamber, and a driving-shaft having a gear-wheel on its end in thechamber in which the gear-wheel on the cutter-shaft is arranged, saidgear -wheel meshing with the gear-wheel on the cuttershaft, as setforth.

2. A hand-controlled wood-carving machine, comprising a casing adaptedto be grasped by the hand of the operator and provided with twochambers, the partition separating the chambers having a conical openingtherein, one of the said chambers being angular and adapted to receivethe drivinggear and the other to receive a cutter, a cuttershaft havinga conical portion fitting in the conical opening of said partition andhaving its ends projecting into the said chambers, the end projectinginto the angular chamber fitting in a socket on the inner face thereof,means for adjusting the shaft to take up the wear, a gear-wheel on thecutter-shaft in the angular chamber, a drive-shaft having a gear wheelon its end within the said angular chamher and meshing with thegear-wheel on the cutter-shaft, and a cutter on the other end ofcutter-shaft in the other chamber, as set forth.

3. A hand -controlled wood carving machine, comprising a casing havingtwo chambers, the partition separating the chambers having a conicalopening therein, one of the said chambers being provided with a socketon its inner face in alinement with the conical opening, a cutter-shafthaving a conical portion fitting in the said conical opening and havingits ends projecting into the said chambers, with one end fitting in thesocket of the said chamber, an adjusting-screw engaging the end of theshaft in the said socket, a cutter on one end of the shaft in onechamber, and means for operating the cutter-shaft, as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame consisting of an angularmember having shaft-bearings at right angles to each other and providedwith a chamber, and another member secured removably to said angularmemberand forming therewith a second chamber, combined with cutter anddriving shafts mounted in the respective portions of the angular member,gearing mounted in the chamber formed by the two members and connectingsaid shafts, and a rotary cutter on the cutter-shaft in the chamber ofthe angular member.

5. A machine of the class described having a casing comprising a mainmember having portions at right angles to each other, one of the saidportions being formed with a chamber open at one side, a second memberangular in form and detachably secured over the angle of the main memberand forming therewith a chamber, and a plate detachably secured to themain member and covering the open side of the chamber therein, as setforth.

6. A machine of the class described, comprising a casing, a rotarycutter mounted therein, a main gage attached to said casing and having aslotted plate disposed below said casing, and a lateral gage clamped adjustably to the main gage.

7. A machine of the class described, comprising a casing, a rotary.cutter journaled therein, a main gage clamped to the casing and having aslot through which the cutter is arranged to work, and an under gagedisposed below the main gage and fastened adj ustably thereto.

8. In a wood-carving machine, the combination with a casing, a rotarycutter mounted therein, and means for operating the same, of a gagehaving a slot through which the cutter projects and provided with armsand with upstanding and apertured lugs, means for engaging the arms ofthe gage to secure the same to the casing, a second gage provided witharms, and means for securing the said second gage to the lugs of thefirst-named gage, as set forth.

9. In a wood-carving machine, the combination with a casing, a rotarycuttermounted therein, and means for operating the cutter, of a gagehaving a slot through which the cutter projects and provided with spacedarms, set-screws for clamping the arms of the gage tothe casing, asecond gage provided with spaced arms extending between the spaced armsof the first gage, and bolts and nuts for clamping the arms of the saidgages together, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED W. II. RAETTIG.

X'Vitnesses:

FRANK GUILBERT THROM, JNo. R. NIBLo.

